Liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating the same

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal display device includes: first and second substrates facing and spaced apart from each other, the first and second substrates having; first to fourth driving lines in the non-display area over the first substrate, the first and second driving lines horizontally separated by a first distance, and the third and fourth driving lines horizontally separated by a second distance greater than the first distance; a seal pattern of an ultraviolet curable material in the non-display area, the seal pattern overlapping the third and fourth driving lines; and a liquid crystal layer inside the seal pattern between the first and second substrates.

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2008-0065600 filed on Jul. 7, 2008 and No. 10-2008-0095303 filed onSep. 29, 2008, which are hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to a liquid crystal display device, andmore particularly, to a liquid crystal display device where a sealpattern is stably cured and a method of fabricating the liquid crystaldisplay device.

BACKGROUND

As information age progresses, flat panel display (FPD) devices havingthe characteristics of light weight, thin profile, and low powerconsumption have been required. The FPD devices are classified accordingto self-emission ability: an emissive type where a display elementitself emits light and a non-emissive type where the FPD device includesan external light source. The emissive type FPD devices include plasmadisplay panel (PDP) devices, field emission display (FED) devices andelectroluminescent display (ELD) devices, while the non-emissive typeFPD devices include liquid crystal display (LCD) devices. Among variousFPD devices, LCD devices have been widely used for a notebook computer,a monitor and a television because of their superiority in resolution,color display and display quality.

An LCD device includes two substrates spaced apart and facing each otherand a liquid crystal layer interposed between the two substrates. Eachof the two substrates includes an electrode on a surface facing theother of the two substrates. A voltage is applied to each electrode toinduce an electric field between the electrodes and the alignment of theliquid crystal molecules as well as the transmittance of light throughthe liquid crystal layer is controlled by varying the intensity of theelectric field, thereby the LCD device displaying images.

A fabrication process for an LCD device includes a process of forming afirst substrate, which may be referred to as an array substrate, havinga thin film transistor (TFT) as a switching element and a pixelelectrode in each pixel region, a process of forming a second substrate,which may be referred to as a color filter substrate, having a colorfilter layer and a common electrode facing the pixel electrode and aprocess of attaching the first and second substrates and forming aliquid crystal layer between the first and second substrates to formliquid crystal panels, i.e., liquid crystal cells.

The process of forming the liquid crystal panels is referred to as aliquid crystal cell process. The liquid crystal cell process includes astep for forming alignment layers on the first and second substrates, astep for attaching the first and second substrates to form a cell gaptherebetween, a step for cutting the attached first and secondsubstrates into the liquid crystal panels and a step for forming theliquid crystal layer in each liquid crystal panel. For example, after aseal pattern is formed at a boundary region, the first and secondsubstrates are attached and the attached first and second substrates arecut into the liquid crystal panels. Next, a liquid crystal material isinjected into each liquid crystal panel using a capillary phenomenonunder a vacuum condition. This injection method of the liquid crystalmaterial requires a process time over 10 hours.

To reduce the process time for forming the liquid crystal panel, asequential dispensing and attaching method where a liquid crystalmaterial is dispended on one of the first and second substrates and thefirst and second substrates are sequentially attached and an apparatusfor the sequential dispensing and attaching method have been suggested.For example, after a seal pattern of an ultraviolet (UV) curablematerial is formed on a first substrate, a liquid crystal material isdispensed on the one of the first substrate in the seal pattern. Next, asecond substrate is aligned with and attached to the first substrate,and the seal pattern is cured with a UV ray. Next, the attached firstand second substrates are cut into liquid crystal panels. In asequential dispensing and attaching method, since the liquid crystalmaterial is dispensed without using a capillary phenomenon, the processtime for forming the liquid crystal panels is reduced. In addition,since the liquid crystal material is dispensed from an upper portion ofthe seal pattern, the seal pattern has a closed rectangular ring shapewithout an injection hole.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a liquid crystal panel for a liquidcrystal display device according to the related art, FIG. 2 is amagnified view of a portion A of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectionalview taken along a line III-III of FIG. 2. In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a liquidcrystal panel 1 includes a display area AA and a non-display area NAsurrounding the display area AA. A plurality of gate pads 42, aplurality of data pads 47, a plurality of gate link lines 43 and aplurality of data link lines 48 are formed in the non-display area NA ona first substrate 10 of the liquid crystal panel 1. The plurality ofgate link lines 43 are connected to the plurality of gate pads 42, andthe plurality of data link lines 48 are connected to the plurality ofdata pads 47. A plurality of gate lines 12, a plurality of data lines22, a plurality of thin film transistors (TFTs) Tr and a plurality ofpixel electrodes 40 are formed in the display area AA on the firstsubstrate 10 of the liquid crystal panel 1. The plurality of gate lines12 are connected to the plurality of gate link lines 43, and theplurality of data lines 22 are connected to the plurality of data linklines 48. The plurality of gate lines 12 and the plurality of data lines22 cross each other to define a plurality of pixel regions P. Inaddition, the TFT Tr is connected to the gate line 12 and the data line22, and the pixel electrode 49 is connected to the TFT Tr in each pixelregion P.

A second substrate 50 of the liquid crystal panel 1 faces and is spacedapart from the first substrate 10. A color filter layer 54, a blackmatrix 52 and a common electrode 57 are formed on an inner surface ofthe second substrate 10. The color filter layer 54 includes red, greenand blue color filters R, G and B each corresponding to the pixel regionP. In addition, the black matrix 52 corresponds to the gate line 12, thedata line 22 and the non-display area NA, and the common electrode 57 isformed on the entire second substrate having the color filter layer 54and the black matrix 52. Further, a liquid crystal layer (not shown) isformed between the first and second substrates 10 and 50, and a sealpattern 70 of a UV curable material is formed in the non-display area NAbetween the first and second substrates 10 and 50.

A plurality of driving lines 17 for driving the liquid crystal panel 1are formed on the first substrate 10 in the non-display area NA. Theplurality of driving lines 17 may be disposed between the plurality ofgate pads 42 and the display area AA and between the plurality of datapads 47 and the display area AA. For example, a common voltage appliedto the common electrode 57 or a gate low voltage applied to the gateline 12 for turning off the TFT Tr may be transmitted from an externalcircuit unit (not show) through the plurality of driving lines 17. Theseal pattern 70 covers the plurality of driving lines 17 and the blackmatrix 52 covers the seal pattern 70 and the plurality of driving lines17. After the first and second substrates 10 and 50 are attached, theseal pattern 70 of a UV curable material is cured with a UV ray. Sincethe black matrix 52 on the second substrate 50 blocks the seal pattern70 completely, the UV ray is irradiated onto the seal pattern 70 from aUV source under the first substrate 10 through the plurality of drivinglines 17. When an area proportion of the plurality of driving lines 17is smaller than about 50%, the seal pattern 70 can be cured uniformly bythe UV ray through the plurality of driving lines 17. Accordingly, theplurality of driving lines 17 are formed to be spaced apart from eachother by a width equal to or greater than a width of each driving line17.

After the liquid crystal panel 1 is formed, a backlight unit is disposedunder the liquid crystal panel 1 and a driving unit is connected to theliquid crystal panel 1 and the backlight unit, thereby an LCD devicecompleted. The driving unit may include a printed circuit board (PCB)and may be divided into a gate driving unit and a data driving unit. Thegate driving unit and the data driving unit may be connected to the gatepad 42 in one side portion and the data pad 47 in another side portion,respectively, of the liquid crystal panel 1 through one of a tapecarrier package (TCP) and a flexible printed circuit (FPC).

Recently, an LCD device has been applied to portable electronic devicessuch as a cellular phone and a personal digital assistant (PDA) as wellas a television and a monitor. Since the LCD device applied to theportable electronic devices has a relatively small size, the LCD deviceis required to have a smaller non-display area for a larger displayarea. Accordingly, a width between adjacent driving lines is reduced anda seal pattern may not be cured uniformly. Further, to reduce anon-display area, a plurality of gate pads and a plurality of data padsmay be formed on a single side portion of a liquid crystal panel and adriving unit may be connected to the gate pads and the data pads at thesingle side portions. Since a plurality of gate link lines for a gatehigh voltage applied to a gate line for turning on a TFT are alsoincluded in the driving lines, the number of the driving linesincreases. As a result, a sufficient width for a uniform cure of theseal pattern is not obtained.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a non-display area of a small-sized liquidcrystal panel according to the related art, and FIG. 5 is across-sectional view taken along a line V-V of FIG. 4. For simplicity,the same reference numbers will be used to refer to the same parts inFIGS. 1, 4 and 5. In FIGS. 4 and 5, a small-sized liquid crystal panel 1includes a display area (not shown) and a non-display area NAsurrounding the display area. A plurality of gate pads (not shown) and aplurality of data pads (not shown) are formed in the non-display area NAat a single side of the small-sized liquid crystal panel 1. In addition,a plurality of driving lines including a plurality of gate link lines 43and a plurality of data link lines (not shown) are formed thenon-display area NA. Since the plurality of gate link lines 43 connectthe plurality of gate pads and a plurality of gate lines and theplurality of data link lines (not shown) connect the plurality of datapads and a plurality of data lines, the number of the plurality of gatelink lines 43 may correspond to the plurality of gate lines and thenumber of the plurality of data link lines may correspond to theplurality of data lines. As a result, the number of the plurality ofdriving lines increase as compared with a large-sized liquid crystalpanel.

Since the number of the plurality of driving lines including theplurality of gate link lines 43 and the plurality of data link linesincrease, a seal pattern 70 is formed in the non-display area NA tooverlap a portion of the plurality of gate link lines 43. For example,the non-display area NA may be classified into a seal area SA where theseal pattern 70 and the portion of the plurality of gate link lines 43are formed and a non-seal area NSA where the other portion of theplurality of gate link lines 43 are formed. In addition, a black matrix52 is formed to completely cover the plurality of gate link lines 43 andthe seal pattern 70.

Since the area proportion of the non-display area NA is limited in thesmall-sized liquid crystal panel 1, a distance d1 between adjacent twogate link lines 43 may be reduced as compared with a large-sized liquidcrystal display panel. For example, when each gate link line 43 has awidth of about 6 μm to about 10 μm, the adjacent two gate link lines 43may be separated by the distance d1 of about 2 μm to about 4 μm.However, the adjacent two gate link lines 43 may be electrically shorteddue to the short distance d1 therebetween. In addition, since an areaproportion of the plurality of gate link lines 43 is greater than about50% due to the short distance d1, the seal pattern 70 may beinsufficiently cured with a UV ray through the plurality of gate linklines 43. The insufficiently cured seal pattern 70 may causecontamination of a liquid crystal layer in the seal pattern 70 ordeterioration in attachment of first and second substrates 10 and 50 ina subsequent fabrication process.

SUMMARY

A liquid crystal display device includes: first and second substratesfacing and spaced apart from each other, the first and second substrateshaving; first to fourth driving lines in the non-display area over thefirst substrate, the first and second driving lines horizontallyseparated by a first distance, and the third and fourth driving lineshorizontally separated by a second distance greater than the firstdistance; a seal pattern of an ultraviolet curable material in thenon-display area, the seal pattern overlapping the third and fourthdriving lines; and a liquid crystal layer inside the seal patternbetween the first and second substrates.

In another aspect, a liquid crystal display device includes: first andsecond substrates facing and spaced apart from each other, the first andsecond substrates having a display area displaying images and anon-display area surrounding the display area; a plurality of drivinglines in the non-display area over the first substrate; a seal patternof a ultraviolet curable material in the non-display area; and a liquidcrystal layer inside the seal pattern between the first and secondsubstrates, wherein a portion of the plurality of driving lines areexposed through the seal pattern and the other portion of the pluralityof driving lines overlaps the seal pattern, and wherein adjacent two ofthe portion of the plurality of driving lines are horizontally separatedby a first distance, and adjacent two of the other portion of theplurality of driving lines are horizontally separated by a seconddistance greater than the first distance.

In another aspect, a method of fabricating a liquid crystal displaydevice includes: forming first to fourth driving lines in a non-displayarea over a first substrate, the non-display area surrounding a displayarea displaying images, the first and second driving lines horizontallyseparated by a first distance, and the third and fourth driving lineshorizontally separated by a second distance greater than the firstdistance; forming a seal pattern of an ultraviolet curable material inthe non-display area over one of the first substrate and a secondsubstrate; forming a liquid crystal layer inside the seal pattern bydispensing liquid crystal materials; attaching the first and secondsubstrates using the seal pattern, the seal pattern overlapping thethird and fourth driving lines; and irradiating an ultraviolet ray ontothe seal pattern through the third and fourth driving lines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a liquid crystal panel for a liquidcrystal display device according to the related art;

FIG. 2 is a magnified view of a portion A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a non-display area of a small-sized liquidcrystal panel according to the related art;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a liquid crystal display device accordingto an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a magnified view showing a portion B of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a non-display area of liquid crystaldisplay device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line X-X of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a non-display area of liquidcrystal display device according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments which areillustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, similarreference numbers will be used to refer to the same or similar parts.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a liquid crystal display device accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 6, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device 100 has a display areaAA displaying images and a non-display area NA surrounding the displayarea AA. The LCD device 100 includes a liquid crystal panel 101 and aflexible printed circuit (FPC) 191 as a connecting unit for a drivingunit. The liquid crystal panel 101 includes first and second substrates110 and 150 facing and spaced apart from each other and a liquid crystallayer (not shown) between the first and second substrates 110 and 150. Ablack matrix (not shown) is formed in the non-display area NA on aninner surface of the second substrate 150. In addition, a color filterlayer (not shown) and a common electrode are sequentially formed in thedisplay area AA on the inner surface of the second substrate 150.

A plurality of gate lines 120, a plurality of data lines 130, aplurality of thin film transistors (TFTs) Tr and a plurality of pixelelectrodes 140 are formed in the display area AA on the first substrate110 of the liquid crystal panel 101. The plurality of gate lines 120 andthe plurality of data lines 130 cross each other to define a pluralityof pixel regions P. In addition, the TFT Tr is connected to the gateline 120 and the data line 130, and the pixel electrode 140 is connectedto the TFT Tr in each pixel region P. Although not shown in FIG. 6, theTFT Tr includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer on the gateelectrode, a semiconductor layer on the gate insulating layer over thegate electrode, and source and drain electrodes on the semiconductorlayer. The semiconductor layer includes an active layer of intrinsicsilicon and an ohmic contact layer of impurity-doped silicon layer, andthe source and drain electrodes are spaced apart from each other.Further, a passivation layer (not shown) having a drain contact hole(not shown) is formed on the source and drain electrodes, and the pixelelectrode 140 is formed on the passivation layer. The drain contact holeexposes the drain electrode, and the pixel electrode 140 is connected tothe drain electrode through the drain contact hole.

A plurality of gate pads (not shown) and a plurality of data pads (notshown) are formed in the non-display area NA on the first substrate 110to correspond to a single side portion of the first substrate 110. Inaddition, a plurality of gate link lines 121 and a plurality of datalink lines 131 are formed in the non-display area NA on the firstsubstrate 110 to correspond to a boundary portion surrounding thedisplay area AA. Although not shown in FIG. 6, the plurality of gatelink lines 121 are spaced apart from each other by one of first andssecond distances. The plurality of gate pads are connected to theplurality of gate lines 120 through the plurality of gate link lines121, and the plurality of data pads are connected to the plurality ofdata lines 130 through the plurality of data link lines 131. A drivingintegrated circuit (IC) 135 is formed to contact the plurality of gatepads and the plurality of data pads. Accordingly, a gate signal issupplied to the plurality of gate lines 120 through the plurality ofgate pads and the plurality of gate link lines 121, and a data signal ofthe driving IC 135 is supplied to the plurality of data lines 130through the plurality of data pads and the plurality of data link lines131.

Moreover, first and second test pads 143 and 145 are formed in thenon-display area NA on the first substrate 110 to correspond to bothsides of the driving IC 135. The first and second test pads 143 and 145may be used for testing a voltage and a waveform of the gate signal andthe data signal. A plurality of connection pads 175 are formed in thenon-display area NA on the first substrate 110 to correspond to an edgeportion of the first substrate 110. The FPC 191 including a connector192 is connected to the plurality of connection pads 175. The FPC 191 isconnected to a driving unit (not shown) including a printed circuitboard (PCB) through the connector 192. As a result, the liquid crystalpanel 101 is connected to the driving unit through the FPC 191.

Furthermore, conductive dots 186 are formed in the non-display area NAto correspond to four edge portions of the second substrate 150, and acommon voltage line 147 is formed in the non-display area NA to connectthe conductive dots 186. For example, the conductive dots 186 mayinclude silver (Ag). The conductive dots 186 contact the first andsecond substrates 110 and 150, and a common voltage of the driving unitmay be applied to the common electrode of the second substrate 150through the conductive dots 186. A seal pattern 190 of UV curablematerial is formed in the non-display area NA between the first andsecond substrates 110 and 150. The seal pattern 190 may have arectangular ring shape without an opening. A liquid crystal layer (notshown) is formed inside the seal pattern 190 between the first andsecond substrates 110 and 150.

In the LCD device 100, the data signal is applied to the pixel electrode140 through the driving IC 135 and the TFT Tr and the common voltage isapplied to the common electrode. An electric field is generated due tothe voltage difference between the common electrode and the pixelelectrode 140 and liquid crystal molecules are re-aligned along theelectric field. As a result, transmittance of the liquid crystal layeris changed and the LCD device displays images.

FIG. 7 is a magnified view showing a portion B of FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 isa cross-sectional view taken along a line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, a first substrate 110 of a liquid crystal panel 101includes a non-display area NA, and a second substrate 150 of the liquidcrystal panel 101 faces and is spaced apart from the first substrate110. A plurality of driving lines including a plurality of gate linklines 121 and a plurality of data link lines are formed in thenon-display area NA on the first substrate 110. For example, theplurality of gate link lines 121 may include first to fourth gate linklines 121 a to 121 d. The plurality of driving lines may be classifiedinto a plurality of first driving lines and a plurality of seconddriving lines according to vertical location with respect to a firstinsulating layer 125. Accordingly, the plurality of first driving linesare formed on the first substrate 110, and a first insulating layer 125is formed on the plurality of first driving lines. The plurality ofsecond driving lines are formed on the first insulating layer 125 and asecond insulating layer 127 is formed on the plurality of second drivinglines. The first and second insulating layers 125 and 127 may includeone of inorganic and organic insulating materials. The plurality offirst driving lines alternate with the plurality of second drivinglines. For example, the plurality of first driving lines include thefirst and third gate link lines 121 a and 121 c, and the plurality ofsecond driving lines include the second and fourth gate link lines 121 band 121 d. The first and third gate link lines 121 a and 121 c areformed on the first substrate 110, and the first insulating layer 125 isformed on the first and third gate link lines 121 a and 121 c. Thesecond and fourth gate link lines 121 b and 121 d are formed on thefirst insulating layer 125, and the second insulating layer 127 isformed on the second and fourth gate link lines 121 b and 121 d.

In addition, a black matrix 153 and a common electrode 155 aresequentially formed on the second substrate 150. A seal pattern 190 isformed in the non-display area NA between the second insulating layer127 of the first substrate 110 and the common electrode 155 of thesecond substrate 150. After the first and second substrates 110 and 150are attached using the seal pattern 190, a UV ray is irradiated onto theseal pattern 190 through the first substrate 110. The non-display areaNA may be classified into a seal area SA where the seal pattern 190 anda portion of the plurality of driving lines are formed and a non-sealarea NSA where the other portion of the plurality of driving lines areformed without the seal pattern 190. For example, the first and secondgate link lines 121 a and 121 b are formed in the non-seal area NSA, andthe third and fourth gate link lines 121 c and 121 d are formed in theseal area SA. Each of the plurality of driving lines may have a width“w.”

Each pair of the adjacent two first driving lines and the adjacent twosecond driving lines are horizontally separated by a first distance “a”in the seal area SA, and each pair of the adjacent two first drivinglines and the adjacent two second driving lines are horizontallyseparated by a second distance “b” in the non-seal area NSA. Inaddition, the adjacent two first and second driving lines arehorizontally separated by a third distance “c” in the seal area SA andthe adjacent two first and second driving lines are horizontallyseparated by a fourth distance “d” in the non-seal area NSA. Forexample, the first and second gate link lines 121 a and 121 b in thenon-seal area NSA are horizontally separated by the fourth distance “d,”and the third and fourth gate link lines 121 c and 121 d in the sealarea SA are horizontally separated by the third distance “c.” The firstdistance “a” in the seal area SA is greater than the second distance “b”in the non-seal area NSA (a>b). For example, the first distance “a” inthe seal area SA may be equal to or greater than three times of thewidth “w” of each driving line (a≧3w), and the second distance “b” inthe non-seal area NSA may be within a range of about 3 μm to about 4 μmsuch that the electrical shortage is prevented between the two adjacentfirst driving lines or between the two adjacent second driving lines. Inaddition, the third distance “c” in the seal area SA is greater than thefourth distance “d” in the non-seal area NSA (c>d). For example, thethird distance “c” in the seal area SA may be equal to or greater thanthe width “w” of each driving line (c≧w). When the width “w” of eachgate link line 121 is within a range of about 6 μm to about 10 μm, thethird distance “c” between the third and fourth gate link lines 121 cand 121 d in the seal area SA may be within a range of about 6 μm toabout 10 μm. As a result, an area proportion of the plurality of drivinglines in the seal area SA is smaller than about 50% and the seal 190 issufficiently uniformly cured by the UV ray through the plurality ofdriving lines in the seal area SA.

In the non-seal area NSA, the plurality of driving lines are notrequired to transmit the UV ray and the fourth distance “d” between theadjacent two first and second driving lines is minimized. For example,the fourth distance “d” between the first and second gate link lines 121a and 121 b may be smaller than the third distance “c” between the thirdand fourth gate link lines 121 c and 121 d. Alternatively, when thesecond distance “b” between the adjacent two first driving lines orbetween the adjacent two second driving lines is equal to the width “w”of each driving line (b=w), the fourth distance “d” between the firstand second gate link lines 121 a and 121 b may be zero (d=0). Further,when the second distance “b” between the adjacent two first drivinglines or between the adjacent two second driving lines is smaller thanthe width “w” of each driving line (b<w), the first and second gate linklines 121 a and 121 b may be formed to overlap each other.

The first and third gate link lines 121 a and 121 c may have the samelayer as the plurality of gate lines 120, and the second and fourth gatelink lines 121 b and 121 c may have the same layer as the plurality ofdata lines 130. In addition, the first insulating layer 125 may have thesame layer as the gate insulating layer and the second insulating layer125 may have the same layer as the passivation layer. The second andfourth gate link lines 121 b and 121 d may be connected to the pluralityof gate lines 120 through a plurality of link contact holes (not shown)in the first insulating layer 125.

In the LCD device of FIGS. 6 to 8, the plurality of driving lines areclassified into the plurality of first driving lines under the firstgate insulating layer 125 and the plurality of second driving lines onthe first insulating layer 125. Since the plurality of first drivinglines have different layer from the plurality of second driving lines,the distance between the adjacent first and second driving lines in thenon-seal area NSA is minimized. As a result, the non-display area NA isminimized and the display area AA is maximized. Further, since thedistance between the adjacent first and second driving lines in the sealarea SA is equal to or greater than the width of each driving line, thearea proportion of the plurality of first and second driving lines inthe seal area SA is smaller than about 50%. Accordingly, the sealpattern 190 is sufficiently uniformly cured by the UV ray through theplurality of first and second driving lines.

Although the plurality of driving lines in the seal area SA havedifferent layers in FIGS. 7 and 8, the plurality of driving lines in theseal area SA may have the same layer in another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a non-display area of liquid crystaldisplay device according to another embodiment of the present invention,and FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line X-X of FIG. 9.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, a first substrate 210 of a liquid crystal panel 201includes a non-display area NA, and a second substrate 250 of the liquidcrystal panel 201 faces and is spaced apart from the first substrate210. A plurality of driving lines including a plurality of gate linklines 221 and a plurality of data link lines are formed in thenon-display area NA on the first substrate 210. For example, theplurality of gate link lines 221 may include first to fourth gate linklines 221 a to 221 d. The plurality of driving lines may be classifiedinto a plurality of first driving lines and a plurality of seconddriving lines according to vertical location with respect to a firstinsulating layer 225. Accordingly, the plurality of first driving linesare formed on the first substrate 210, and a first insulating layer 225is formed on the plurality of first driving lines. The plurality ofsecond driving lines are formed on the first insulating layer 225 and asecond insulating layer 227 is formed on the plurality of second drivinglines. The first and second insulating layers 225 and 227 may includeone of inorganic and organic insulating materials. The plurality offirst driving lines alternate with the plurality of second drivinglines. For example, the plurality of first driving lines include thefirst, third and fourth gate link lines 221 a, 221 c and 221 d, and theplurality of second driving lines include the second gate link line 221b. The first, third and fourth gate link lines 221 a, 221 c and 221 dare formed on the first substrate 210, and the first insulating layer225 is formed on the first, third and fourth gate link lines 221 a, 221c and 221 d. The second gate link line 221 b is formed on the firstinsulating layer 225, and the second insulating layer 227 is formed onthe second gate link line 221 b.

In addition, a black matrix 253 and a common electrode 255 aresequentially formed on the second substrate 250. A seal pattern 290 isformed in the non-display area NA between the second insulating layer227 of the first substrate 210 and the common electrode 255 of thesecond substrate 250. After the first and second substrates 210 and 250are attached using the seal pattern 290, a UV ray is irradiated onto theseal pattern 290 through the first substrate 210. The non-display areaNA may be classified into a seal area SA where the seal pattern 290 anda portion of the plurality of driving lines are formed and a non-sealarea NSA where the other portion of the plurality of driving lines areformed without the seal pattern 290. For example, the first and secondgate link lines 221 a and 221 b are formed in the non-seal area NSA, andthe third and fourth gate link lines 221 c and 221 d are formed in theseal area SA. Each of the plurality of driving lines may have a width“w.”

The plurality of driving lines in the seal area SA include the pluralityof first driving lines having the same layer under the first insulatinglayer 225. For example, the third and fourth gate link lines 221 c and221 d are formed on the first substrate 210 and the first insulatinglayer 225 is formed on the third and fourth gate link lines 221 c and221 d. In addition, the second insulating layer 227 is formed on thefirst insulating layer 225 without the plurality of gate link lines inthe seal area SA. The adjacent two first driving lines are horizontallyseparated by a first distance “a” in the seal area SA, and each pair ofthe adjacent two first driving lines and the adjacent two second drivinglines are horizontally separated by a second distance “b” in thenon-seal area NSA. Since only the plurality of first driving lines areformed in the seal area SA, the first distance “a” of FIGS. 9 and 10corresponds to the third distance “c” of FIGS. 7 and 8. In addition, theadjacent two first and second driving lines are horizontally separatedby a fourth distance “d” in the non-seal area NSA. For example, thefirst and second gate link lines 221 a and 221 b in the non-seal areaNSA are horizontally separated by the fourth distance “d,” and the thirdand fourth gate link lines 221 c and 221 d in the seal area SA arehorizontally separated by the first distance “a.” The first distance “a”in the seal area SA may be greater than the second distance “b” in thenon-seal area NSA (a>b). For example, the second distance “b” in thenon-seal area NSA may be within a range of about 3 μm to about 4 μm suchthat the electrical shortage is prevented between the two adjacent firstdriving lines or between the two adjacent second driving lines. Inaddition, the first distance “a” in the seal area SA is greater than thefourth distance “d” in the non-seal area NSA (a>d). For example, thefirst distance “a” in the seal area SA may be equal to or greater thanthe width “w” of each driving line (a≧w). When the width “w” of eachgate link line 221 is within a range of about 6 μm to about 10 μm, thefirst distance “a” between the third and fourth gate link lines 221 cand 221 d in the seal area SA may be within a range of about 6 μm toabout 10 μm. As a result, an area proportion of the plurality of drivinglines in the seal area SA is smaller than about 50% and the seal 290 issufficiently uniformly cured by the UV ray through the plurality ofdriving lines in the seal area SA.

In the non-seal area NSA, the plurality of driving lines are notrequired to transmit the UV ray and the fourth distance “d” between theadjacent two first and second driving lines is minimized. For example,the fourth distance “d” between the first and second gate link lines 221a and 221 b may be smaller than the first distance “a” between the thirdand fourth gate link lines 221 c and 221 d (d<a). Alternatively, whenthe second distance “b” between the adjacent two first driving lines orbetween the adjacent two second driving lines is equal to the width “w”of each driving line (b=w), the fourth distance “d” between the firstand second gate link lines 221 a and 221 b may be zero (d=0). Further,when the second distance “b” between the adjacent two first drivinglines or between the adjacent two second driving lines is smaller thanthe width “w” of each driving line (b<w), the first and second gate linklines 221 a and 221 b may be formed to overlap each other.

The first, third and fourth gate link lines 221 a, 221 c and 221 d mayhave the same layer as a plurality of gate lines (not shown), and thesecond gate link line 221 b may have the same layer as a plurality ofdata lines (not shown). In addition, the first insulating layer 225 mayhave the same layer as a gate insulating layer (not shown) of a TFT (notshown) and the second insulating layer 225 may have the same layer as apassivation layer (not shown) on the TFT. The second gate link line 221b may be connected to the plurality of gate lines through a plurality oflink contact holes (not shown) in the first insulating layer 225.

In the LCD device of FIGS. 9 and 10, the plurality of driving lines areclassified into the plurality of first driving lines under the firstgate insulating layer 225 and the plurality of second driving lines onthe first insulating layer 225. Since the plurality of first drivinglines have different layer from the plurality of second driving lines,the distance between the adjacent first and second driving lines in thenon-seal area NSA is minimized. As a result, the non-display area NA isminimized and the display area AA is maximized. Further, the distancebetween the adjacent first driving lines in the seal area SA is equal toor greater than the width of each driving line, the area proportion ofthe plurality of first driving lines in the seal area SA is smaller thanabout 50%. Moreover, since the plurality of first driving lines in theseal area SA has the same layer, scattering at the plurality of firstdriving lines may be minimized while a UV ray passes through theplurality of first driving lines. Accordingly, the seal pattern 290 issufficiently uniformly cured by the UV ray through the plurality offirst driving lines.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a non-display area of liquidcrystal display device according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

In FIG. 11, a first substrate 310 of a liquid crystal panel 301 includesa non-display area NA, and a second substrate 350 of the liquid crystalpanel 301 faces and is spaced apart from the first substrate 310. Aplurality of driving lines including a plurality of gate link lines 321and a plurality of data link lines are formed in the non-display area NAon the first substrate 310. For example, the plurality of gate linklines 321 may include first to fourth gate link lines 321 a to 321 d.The plurality of driving lines may be classified into a plurality offirst driving lines and a plurality of second driving lines according tovertical location with respect to a first insulating layer 325.Accordingly, the plurality of first driving lines are formed on thefirst substrate 310, and a first insulating layer 325 is formed on theplurality of first driving lines. The plurality of second driving linesare formed on the first insulating layer 325 and a second insulatinglayer 327 is formed on the plurality of second driving lines. The firstand second insulating layers 325 and 327 may include one of inorganicand organic insulating materials. The plurality of first driving linesalternate with the plurality of second driving lines. For example, theplurality of first driving lines include the first gate link line 321 a,and the plurality of second driving lines include the second, third andfourth gate link lines 321 b, 321 c and 321 d. The first gate link line321 a is formed on the first substrate 310, and the first insulatinglayer 325 is formed on the first gate link line 321 a. The second, thirdand fourth gate link lines 321 b, 321 c and 321 d are formed on thefirst insulating layer 325, and the second insulating layer 327 isformed on the second, third and fourth gate link lines 321 b, 321 c and321 d.

In addition, a black matrix 353 and a common electrode 355 aresequentially formed on the second substrate 350. A seal pattern 390 isformed in the non-display area NA between the second insulating layer327 of the first substrate 310 and the common electrode 355 of thesecond substrate 350. After the first and second substrates 310 and 350are attached using the seal pattern 390, a UV ray is irradiated onto theseal pattern 390 through the first substrate 310. The non-display areaNA may be classified into a seal area SA where the seal pattern 390 anda portion of the plurality of driving lines are formed and a non-sealarea NSA where the other portion of the plurality of driving lines areformed without the seal pattern 390. For example, the first gate linkline 321 a is formed in the non-seal area NSA, and the second, third andfourth gate link lines 321 b, 321 c and 321 d are formed in the sealarea SA. Each of the plurality of driving lines may have a width “w.”

The plurality of driving lines in the seal area SA include the pluralityof second driving lines having the same layer on the first insulatinglayer 325. For example, the first insulating layer 325 is formed on thefirst substrate 310 without the plurality of gate link lines in the sealarea SA. In addition, the third and fourth gate link lines 321 c and 321d are formed on the first insulating layer 325 and the second insulatinglayer 327 is formed on the third and fourth gate link lines 321 c and321 d. The adjacent two second driving lines are horizontally separatedby a first distance “a” in the seal area SA, and each pair of theadjacent two first driving lines and the adjacent two second drivinglines are horizontally separated by a second distance “b” in thenon-seal area NSA. Since only the plurality of second driving lines areformed in the seal area SA, the first distance “a” of FIG. 11corresponds to the third distance “c” of FIGS. 7 and 8. In addition, theadjacent two first and second driving lines are horizontally separatedby a fourth distance “d” in the non-seal area NSA. For example, thefirst and second gate link lines 321 a and 321 b in the non-seal areaNSA are horizontally separated by the fourth distance “d,” and the thirdand fourth gate link lines 321 c and 321 d in the seal area SA arehorizontally separated by the first distance “a.” The first distance “a”in the seal area SA may be greater than the second distance “b” in thenon-seal area NSA (a>b). For example, the second distance “b” in thenon-seal area NSA may be within a range of about 3 μm to about 4 μm suchthat the electrical shortage is prevented between the two adjacent firstdriving lines or between the two adjacent second driving lines. Inaddition, the first distance “a” in the seal area SA is greater than thefourth distance “d” in the non-seal area NSA (a>d). For example, thefirst distance “a” in the seal area SA may be equal to or greater thanthe width “w” of each driving line (a≧w). When the width “w” of eachgate link line 221 is within a range of about 6 μm to about 10 μm, thefirst distance “a” between the third and fourth gate link lines 321 cand 321 d in the seal area SA may be within a range of about 6 μm toabout 10 μm. As a result, an area proportion of the plurality of drivinglines in the seal area SA is smaller than about 50% and the seal 390 issufficiently uniformly cured by the UV ray through the plurality ofdriving lines in the seal area SA.

In the non-seal area NSA, the plurality of driving lines are notrequired to transmit the UV ray and the fourth distance “d” between theadjacent two first and second driving lines is minimized. For example,the fourth distance “d” between the first and second gate link lines 321a and 321 b may be smaller than the first distance “a” between the thirdand fourth gate link lines 321 c and 321 d (d<a). Alternatively, whenthe second distance “b” between the adjacent two first driving lines orbetween the adjacent two second driving lines is equal to the width “w”of each driving line (b=w), the fourth distance “d” between the firstand second gate link lines 321 a and 321 b may be zero (d=0). Further,when the second distance “b” between the adjacent two first drivinglines or between the adjacent two second driving lines is smaller thanthe width “w” of each driving line (b<w), the first and second gate linklines 321 a and 321 b may be formed to overlap each other.

The first gate link line 321 a may have the same layer as a plurality ofgate lines (not shown), and the second, third and fourth gate link lines321 b, 321 c and 321 d may have the same layer as a plurality of datalines (not shown). In addition, the first insulating layer 325 may havethe same layer as a gate insulating layer (not shown) of a TFT (notshown) and the second insulating layer 325 may have the same layer as apassivation layer (not shown) on the TFT. The second, third and fourthgate link lines 321 b, 321 c and 321 d may be connected to the pluralityof gate lines through a plurality of link contact holes (not shown) inthe first insulating layer 325.

In the LCD device of FIG. 11, the plurality of driving lines areclassified into the plurality of first driving lines under the firstgate insulating layer 325 and the plurality of second driving lines onthe first insulating layer 325. Since the plurality of first drivinglines have different layer from the plurality of second driving lines,the distance between the adjacent first and second driving lines in thenon-seal area NSA is minimized. As a result, the non-display area NA isminimized and the display area AA is maximized. Further, the distancebetween the adjacent second driving lines in the seal area SA is equalto or greater than the width of each driving line, the area proportionof the plurality of second driving lines in the seal area SA is smallerthan about 50%. Moreover, since the plurality of second driving lines inthe seal area SA has the same layer, scattering at the plurality ofsecond driving lines may be minimized while a UV ray passes through theplurality of second driving lines. Accordingly, the seal pattern 390 issufficiently uniformly cured by the UV ray through the plurality ofsecond driving lines.

In an LCD device according to the present invention, a plurality ofdriving lines formed in a non-display area are classified into aplurality of first driving lines and a plurality of second drivinglines. Since the plurality of first driving lines have different layerfrom the plurality of second driving lines with an interveninginsulating layer, a distance between the adjacent driving lines in anon-seal area is minimized. Accordingly, the non-display area isminimized and a display area is maximized. In addition, since a distancebetween the adjacent driving lines in a seal area is equal to or greaterthan a width of each driving line, a seal pattern is sufficientlyuniformly cured by a UV ray through the plurality of driving lines inthe seal area. Accordingly, contamination of a liquid crystal layer anddeterioration in attachment step are prevented. As a result, since asequential dispensing and attaching method is applicable for a liquidcrystal layer of the LCD device, process time is reduced and efficiencyin fabrication process is improved.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in a liquid crystal displaydevice and a method of fabricating the liquid crystal display device ofthe present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover themodifications and variations of this invention provided they come withinthe scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. A liquid crystal display device, comprising: first and secondsubstrates facing and spaced apart from each other, the first and secondsubstrates having; first to fourth driving lines in the non-display areaover the first substrate; a first insulating layer between the first andsecond driving lines; a second insulating layer on the second drivingline; a seal pattern of an ultraviolet curable material in thenon-display area; and a liquid crystal layer inside the seal patternbetween the first and second substrates, wherein the first and seconddriving lines are exposed outside the seal pattern and are horizontallyseparated by a first distance, wherein the third and fourth drivinglines overlap the seal pattern and are horizontally separated by asecond distance greater than the first distance, and wherein the firstto fourth driving lines have a same width as one another.
 2. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the first insulating layer is formed onthe third driving line, and the fourth driving line is formed betweenthe first and second insulating layers.
 3. The device according to claim1, wherein the first insulating layer is formed on the third and fourthdriving lines.
 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the third andfourth driving lines are formed between the first and second insulatinglayers.
 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second distanceis equal to or greater than a width of each of the first to fourthdriving lines.
 6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the width ofeach of the first to fourth driving lines is within a range of about 6μm to about 10 μm.
 7. The device according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a gate line, a data line, a thin film transistor and a pixelelectrode in the display area on the first substrate, wherein the gateline crosses the data line, wherein the thin film transistor isconnected to the gate line and the data line, and wherein the pixelelectrode is connected to the thin film transistor; and a color filterlayer, a black matrix and a common electrode in the display area on thesecond substrate, wherein the black matrix corresponds to the sealpattern.
 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein at least one of thefirst to fourth driving lines is one of a gate link line connected tothe gate line and a data link line connected to the data line.
 9. Thedevice according to claim 7, wherein a gate insulating layer is formedon the gate line and a passivation layer is formed on the data line,wherein the first and second driving lines have the same layer as thegate line and the data line, respectively, and wherein the firstinsulating layer and the second insulating layer have the same layer asthe gate insulating layer and the passivation layer, respectively.
 10. Aliquid crystal display device, comprising: first and second substratesfacing and spaced apart from each other, the first and second substrateshaving a display area displaying images and a non-display areasurrounding the display area; a plurality of driving lines in thenon-display area over the first substrate; a seal pattern of aultraviolet curable material in the non-display area; first and secondinsulating layers between the first substrate and the seal pattern; anda liquid crystal layer inside the seal pattern between the first andsecond substrates, wherein a first portion of the plurality of drivinglines are exposed outside the seal pattern and a second portion of theplurality of driving lines overlaps the seal pattern, wherein adjacenttwo of the first portion of the plurality of driving lines arehorizontally separated by a first distance, and adjacent two of thesecond portion of the plurality of driving lines are horizontallyseparated by a second distance greater than the first distance, whereinthe first portion of the plurality of driving lines include a pluralityof first driving lines and a plurality of second driving linesalternating with one another wherein the first insulating layer isformed between the plurality of first driving lines and the plurality ofsecond driving lines, and the second insulating layer is formed on theplurality of second driving lines, and wherein the first portion of theplurality of driving lines have a same width as the second portion ofthe plurality of driving lines.
 11. The device according to claim 10,wherein the second portion of the plurality of driving lines include theplurality of the first driving lines under the first insulating layerand the plurality of second driving lines between the first and secondinsulating layers.
 12. The device according to claim 10, wherein thesecond portion of the plurality of driving lines exclusively include theplurality of the first driving lines under the first insulating layer.13. The device according to claim 10, wherein the second portion of theplurality of driving lines exclusively include the plurality of seconddriving lines between the first and second insulating layers.
 14. Thedevice according to claim 10, wherein the second distance is equal to orgreater than a width of each of the plurality of driving lines.
 15. Amethod of fabricating a liquid crystal display device, comprising:forming first to fourth driving lines in a non-display area over a firstsubstrate, the non-display area surrounding a display area displayingimages; forming a first insulating layer between the first and seconddriving lines; forming a second insulating layer on the second drivingline; forming a seal pattern of an ultraviolet curable material in thenon-display area over one of the first substrate and a second substrate;forming a liquid crystal layer inside the seal pattern by dispensingliquid crystal materials; attaching the first and second substratesusing the seal pattern, the seal pattern overlapping the third andfourth driving lines; and irradiating an ultraviolet ray onto the sealpattern through the third and fourth driving lines, wherein the firstand second driving lines are exposed outside the seal pattern and arehorizontally separated by a first distance, wherein the third and fourthdriving lines overlap the seal pattern and are horizontally separated bya second distance greater than the first distance, and wherein the firstto fourth driving lines have a same width as one another.